Free Rapid HIV Testing

About HIV Testing

When a person is infected with a virus, the immune system responds by making antibodies. Antibodies show that a person has been infected.

It can take the body some time after infection to produce enough antibodies show up on the test. This is called the "Window Period." For most people, enough antibodies will be present to test positive 3 months after infection--but it can take as many as 6 months. HIV CAN STILL BE TRANSMITTED DURING THE WINDOW PERIOD. If you think you have been exposed to HIV in the last 6 months take precautions to prevent transmission (condoms) and test again to be sure.

What To Expect

Your test specialist will take you to a private screening room and stick your finger to take a small sample of blood to be tested. The test takes about 15-20 minutes to process. During this time, you will participate in a short counseling session using the RESPECT intervention--you'll learn about how HIV is transmitted, look at what has put you at risk, and develop a plan to reduce this risk in the future.

Your test and counseling session will be totally confidential, and you will know your results in about half an hour.

Who Should Get Tested?

HIV can infect anyone--of any race, age, gender, or sexual orientation--but some factors can contribute to higher risk, such as:

*Having multiple sex partners*"Hooking up" with anonymous partners*Engaging in oral, anal, or vaginal sex without a condom*Sharing needles for injection drug use

The CDC recommends that all sexually active individuals be tested for HIV once a year. Individuals at higher risk of infection or transmission may consider testing more frequently.